July 12, 2005 — July 12, 2006
one red
paperclip
How Kyle MacDonald traded a single red paperclip for a two-story house in 14 trades over one year.
14 Trades · 1 Year · 1 House
The Project
The One Red Paperclip Project
On July 12, 2005, I posted a picture of a red paperclip on my blog and in the barter section of craigslist and asked if anyone wanted to make a trade for something bigger or better. A few days later I traded the paperclip for a pen shaped like a fish. Then I traded the pen for a doorknob. And so on, each time trading for something bigger or better.
Once all the dust settled, I'd made 14 trades and wound up with a house located at 503 Main Street in Kipling, Saskatchewan.
It was an amazing year.
Over the year of trading I met hundreds of awesome people, made many new friends and tried out new things. The experience was incredible.
Everything has to start somewhere, and the most important trade was the first, when I traded away the red paperclip. If I hadn't tried the idea out, I'd just be a guy with a red paperclip on his desk and the adventure would've never happened.
The Ascension Ledger
14 Trades.
One Year.
One Red Paperclip
One Red PaperclipFish-Shaped Pen
Fish-Shaped Pen
Fish-Shaped PenHand-Sculpted Doorknob
Hand-Sculpted Doorknob
DoorknobColeman Camp Stove
Coleman Camp Stove
Camp StoveHonda Generator
Honda Generator
Honda Generator"Instant Party"
"Instant Party"
"Instant Party"Ski-Doo Snowmobile
Ski-Doo Snowmobile
SnowmobileTrip to Yahk, BC
Trip to Yahk, BC
Trip to YahkBox Truck
Box Truck
Box TruckRecording Contract
Recording Contract
Recording ContractYear's Rent in Phoenix
Year's Rent in Phoenix
Year's RentAfternoon with Alice Cooper
Afternoon with Alice Cooper
Afternoon with Alice CooperKISS Snow Globe
KISS Snow Globe
KISS Snow GlobeMovie Role
Movie Role
Movie RoleA House
A Two-Story House
Mission Complete
From a paperclip on a desk
to a house on Main Street.
The Book
One Red Paperclip
How to Trade a Paperclip for a House
by Kyle MacDonald
Inside the house in Kipling, Kyle sat down and wrote an entertaining book about the whole adventure, with plenty of behind-the-scenes and never-been-told-before stories.
Available in 14 languages — from Estonian to Korean. There's even an English version!
Buy the BookSpeaking
Book Kyle for Your Event
The red paperclip story has inspired millions of people around the world. Kyle will not only help your audience imagine how they can achieve amazing results using creative and fun solutions to everyday problems — they'll get important information about how to put those ideas into action.
He's the world's foremost expert on trading red paperclips for houses.
He's great at making numbered lists.
He'll present the red paperclip story live — entertaining, inspirational, and actionable.
"It is with enthusiasm that I recommend Kyle MacDonald to anyone looking for a very unique, entertaining, and inspirational speaker. Kyle's amazing story helped make our annual conference one of our most successful events so far."
Brian Scuadmore
Founder and CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
"Kyle MacDonald's fascinating story about remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and thinking outside the box captured the undivided attention of all ages from beginning to end. Following the event one spectator commented 'how could you possibly top having Kyle MacDonald'."
FirstSask Credit Union
& Golden Opportunities Fund
"Kyle is an inspiring storyteller with a wonderful message. His casual style is engaging and the lessons that he imparts are empowering for leaders at any level of an organization."
G. Michael Maddock
CEO & Founding Partner, Maddock Douglas
Partial list of speaking engagements
Press
As Seen On
The one red paperclip story was covered by hundreds of media outlets worldwide, including an article Kyle's mom wrote that ran in the Belcarra Barnacle.
...and hundreds more worldwide
FAQ